Believe it or not, winter is almost upon us again, and for those of us who live in the Northern climates of the country, or in Canada, that can only mean one thing: SNOW! And lots of it depending on where you live. How you remove that snow from your driveway, walkway, or parking lot depends on many factors including how much snow you accumulate in a season and how much yardage of the fluffy white stuff you have to remove.
Some of us can use a good ole fashioned snow shovel if a small space is all we have to clear. But others need something much more robust to clear a path for the family automobile or mailman. That is where the Snow Thrower or Snowblower comes into the picture. What is the difference between the two? Nothing really, the terms are interchangeable, and for the purposes of this guide, we will refer to the machine as a Snowblower here on out.
So, which snowblower is right for you? The choices can be overwhelming. But not to worry, with a few pointers, including some from a snowblower professional that I spoke with, you'll be able to narrow down your search and find a machine that fits your particular needs. In narrowing down your choices make sure you make a budget and stick to it and are not roped into buying a snowblower you can't afford, loaded down with features you'll never use.
So, before you begin that search for your new (or used) snowblower, take some time to read this guide to get advice and get informed.
Is a snowblower right for everyone? In a word: No. Get to know your snowfall.
Snowblowers are a significant investment and they are not exactly maintenance free, so...in order to determine whether or not you need a snow blower you should ask yourself the following questions:
- How much snow does my area of the country receive? In other words, in a single season how much snow falls in your area; less than ten inches, or more than 20 inches a season? If you get loads of snow per season and spend a lot of time clearing it by hand, then you could probably use a snow blower, especially in you have a long driveway, or walkway to clear. And if you own a small business, do you have an entire parking lot to clear. If this is the case, even if the snowfall is between 5 to 20 inches a season, a snow blower might be worth the investment.
- What type of snow do I need to clear---light, medium, heavy, or extra-heavy? This question will inform what type of snow blower you purchase. With only a light or moderate snowfall to clear a single stage snow blower is probably all you will need. However, if you experience heavy or extra-heavy snowfall, then a larger two-stage snow blower might be for you.
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